Photo by Steve Sartori
In honor of Syracuse University’s 150th anniversary year in 2020, a book has been commissioned to celebrate the University’s history, stories and people—including short essays by Syracuse alumni reflecting on their own Orange experience. “Forever Orange: The Story of Syracuse University” will be crafted by authors Scott Pitoniak ’77 and Rick Burton ’80.
One of the book’s chapters will feature a series of short essays, with photos, by Syracuse alumni reminiscing about their time on campus and their connection to Syracuse University. Pitoniak and Burton are asking alumni to share their memories and have a chance to be part of the anniversary publication.
“We are looking for a broad cross-section of recollections,” Pitoniak says. “For example, it might be someone writing about the life-changing influence of a favorite professor or course. Or what it was like to be the student who played Otto the Orange or the tuba player in the SU Marching Band. Or memories of how someone attended President Lyndon Johnson’s speech at the dedication of Newhouse 1. Or what campus was like during the G.I. Bulge.”
Pitoniak and Burton encourage alumni to contribute their recollections as to what made their time at Syracuse so special and help represent the expansive history of Syracuse University through individual stories.
“The story possibilities are endless but the collective voices of our alumni will help us present an even fuller, richer mosaic of our great University,” says Burton, David B. Falk Professor of Sport Management in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. “But in order to make this happen, alumni need to give us their best memories.”
Submissions should not be more than 300 words and emailed to SU150thbook@syr.edu by April 15. Submissions should include the author’s name, graduation year and college or major. All submissions will become the property of Syracuse University. There is no guarantee any submission will be selected for the 150th book and memories may be slightly edited for style or readability.
Authors of accepted submissions will be notified by May 1 and asked to sign waivers granting release of their “memory” to be used in “Forever Orange.” There will be no payment for supplying a story. Decisions on which memories are selected will be made by the book’s authors.
